This article provides an in-depth overview of arthritis, detailing its causes, main types like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and various management options. It emphasizes early diagnosis, symptom relief, and lifestyle changes to improve patient quality of life.

Joint Inflammation: Causes, Variants, and Care Strategies

Joint inflammation, known as arthritis, affects the connections that enable bones to move seamlessly. When these joints swell and become painful, daily activities can be impacted. The condition can target a single joint or multiple joints: monoarthritis involves one joint, oligoarthritis involves two or three, and polyarthritis affects four or more joints.

Common Forms of Arthritis
The two most widespread and often persistent forms in the United States are:
Osteoarthritis, caused by cartilage breakdown or injury, and
Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks joint tissues.

Factors leading to arthritis differ by type. Injuries commonly trigger osteoarthritis, while genetics and metabolic conditions such as gout play roles. Infections from bacteria or viruses can induce inflammation, particularly in rheumatoid arthritis, affecting not just joints but also tendons, ligaments, and possibly internal organs.

Initial symptoms include joint swelling, pain, and stiffness. Additional indications involve tenderness, redness, warmth, fatigue, fever, weight loss, decreased appetite, gland swelling, lung discomfort, and shortness of breath.

Diagnosis is usually performed by a rheumatologist examining symptoms, medical history, and conducting imaging or laboratory tests to determine the specific arthritis type and severity.

Treatment approaches aim mainly at alleviating symptoms. Common options include anti-inflammatory drugs, acupuncture, cold therapy, surgical procedures, paraffin wax treatments, and immune-modulating medications. Although a permanent cure is unavailable, effective management and lifestyle adjustments help control the condition.